A Sacramento mother and the Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a lawsuit Wednesday against McDonald's Corp., alleging that its practice of giving toys with children's meals is deceptive to children. The organization had been threatening to sue McDonald's since last summer, claiming that the Happy Meals toys constitute a method of circumventing parental control and teach children unhealthy eating. The complaint, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, also accuses the company of false advertising.

Burger King stock was on the upswing Monday after the fast-food company said its profit surged nearly 33% in the third quarter, beating predictions from Wall Street. The Miami-based company said its adjusted net income soared to $81.1 million, or 23 cents a share, from $61.1 million, or 17 cents a share, during the same period a year earlier. Revenue at the chain, which last month unveiled its Satisfries line of lower-fat French fries, tanked 40% to $275.1 million but still exceeded estimates.

A Sacramento mother and the Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a lawsuit Wednesday against McDonald's Corp., alleging that its practice of giving toys with children's meals is deceptive to children. The organization had been threatening to sue McDonald's since last summer, claiming that the Happy Meals toys constitute a method of circumventing parental control and teach children unhealthy eating. The complaint, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, also accuses the company of false advertising.

William Marble has been promoted to vice president of Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's Corp. Marble previously was senior regional manager in Southern California. He will continue to head the operations, marketing, purchasing, real estate and construction and franchising of more than 200 Southland McDonald's restaurants.

Wiz Technology Inc., publisher of low-cost computer software, said Monday it will provide a variety of products to the 734 Osco and Sav-On drug stores throughout the United States. Wiz received a purchase order for the products and permanent displays from the drug store division of American Stores Co. of Oak Brook, Ill.

The dual transactions were aimed at strengthening the long-distance telephone services that both Telesphere International Inc. and Marmon Telephone Network supply mostly to the lodging industry. Telesphere, based in Oak Brook, Ill., will pay Chicago-based Marmon Telephone Network, a unit of Marmon Group, $5.2 million for its long-distance network business and telephone switching facilities in Carson, Chicago, Atlanta and Stamford, Conn. Marmon will pay Telesphere $3.

A subsidiary of the nation's largest waste-disposal firm has agreed to pay a $2.5-million fine to settle civil complaints involving an Ohio landfill, the Environmental Protection Agency said. The penalty against Chemical Waste Management Inc., an arm of Waste Management Inc. of Oak Brook, Ill., is the largest administrative fine in the history of the EPA. It is far less than the $6.

Behind family photos in the basement of a notorious Chicago mobster, federal agents made a stunning discovery: a secret compartment containing almost three-quarters of a million dollars, 1,000 pieces of stolen jewelry and seven firearms. Authorities also found that convicted mob hit man Frank Calabrese Sr. had secretly taped conversations with other gangsters. Agents found recording devices and about a dozen microcassettes. Handwritten notes and ledgers detailing suspected extortion and gambling activities were in the cubbyhole too, authorities said.

Wiz Technology Inc., publisher of low-cost computer software, said Monday it will provide a variety of products to the 734 Osco and Sav-On drug stores throughout the United States. Wiz received a purchase order for the products and permanent displays from the drug store division of American Stores Co. of Oak Brook, Ill.

William Marble has been promoted to vice president of Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's Corp. Marble previously was senior regional manager in Southern California. He will continue to head the operations, marketing, purchasing, real estate and construction and franchising of more than 200 Southland McDonald's restaurants.

Allied Products Corp. said it has acquired White Farm Equipment Co., a manufacturer of agricultural equipment currently in bankruptcy proceedings. Allied has issued $17 million of a new series of variable-rate non-convertible preferred stock to purchase substantially all of the operating assets of suburban Oak Brook, Ill.-based White Farm. It's the third acquisition of a financially depressed farm equipment manufacturer by Allied in the past 24 months, company President Richard A. Drexler said.

The PGA Wednesday announced what it considers to be the 18 toughest golf holes in the country, a collection that would make up a course 7,945 yards long. Among the holes included in the list were such well-known tests as the second at Riviera Country Club, the sixth at PGA West in LaQuinta, the eighth at Pebble Beach, the 10th at Augusta National and the 18th at Doral Country Club. A panel of 55 people associated with the game, including U.S.

The PGA Wednesday announced what it considers to be the 18 toughest golf holes in the country, a collection that would make up a course 7,945 yards long. Among the holes included in the list were such well-known tests as the second at Riviera Country Club, the sixth at PGA West in LaQuinta, the eighth at Pebble Beach, the 10th at Augusta National and the 18th at Doral Country Club. A panel of 55 people associated with the game, including U.S.

Allied Products Corp. said it has acquired White Farm Equipment Co., a manufacturer of agricultural equipment currently in bankruptcy proceedings. Allied has issued $17 million of a new series of variable-rate non-convertible preferred stock to purchase substantially all of the operating assets of suburban Oak Brook, Ill.-based White Farm. It's the third acquisition of a financially depressed farm equipment manufacturer by Allied in the past 24 months, company President Richard A. Drexler said.